Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Clover

Tsumenki's Description:
In a futuristic world, Ryuu Kazuhiko is forced out of retirement to deliver precious cargo, the four-leaf Clover Suu. While they struggle to survive enemies who are after both of them, they discover the deeper link between them -- a link that holds the key to their shattered past and to their uncertain future.

Detail and drama in a rare find. >>> by tsumenki
The manga opens in medias res , but the story begins years before -- gently hinted at in Volume Two, only to be revealed later in volumes three and four. Here's where my confession is in order: I must admit that I lacked interest during the first volume. It was difficult to get into the Clover universe, trying to figure out who's who and what's what. But in the end, stripped of its intricate details, I realized that Clover was just another love story -- but what a love story.

CLAMP's weakness for wings is evident in Clover . Suu, the main character, is a four-leaf clover, the only one of her kind, blessed and cursed with mysterious psychic abilities -- including being able to sprout mechanical wings on cue. Tasked to deliver her to a certain place is Ryuu Fey Kazuhiko, pulled out of retirement for one final assignment. But what binds them together goes deeper than any military mission, and this is what makes Clover one-of-a-kind.

Take any sweet, hopeful young girl who longs for happiness and love. Take any tough, jaded man who has learned to live with bitterness and loss. But put them together in Clover and their stereotypes fall naturally into place. It matters little that Suu and Ryuu are not unique in the manga world. In Clover , it is not the character that propels the story forward; rather it is the circumstances they find themselves in. Clover becomes the tragedy that it is because of this.

Woven between the dynamic panels are the lines to a song. While the lyrics are moving by themselves, they take on a more essential role in the narrative as they link all the characters together. In this series, how the story is told is just as important as the story itself. Mokona Apapa, Clover 's lead artist, combines detailed art and negative space to present everything in rather unconventional manga paneling.

There are rumors of another volume, but readers can stop at volume two and leave satisfied. Extend to volume three, and they will marvel at the unexpected richness and drama of the story's depth as everything comes together. There are still some issues that beg for further exploration, but if you believe in the luck that comes at finding a four-leaf clover, then the search -- and the wait -- is well worth it.